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Ninilchik man killed in Christmas car crash

A Ninilchik man died in a single-vehicle crash Christmas Day on the Sterling Highway near Happy Valley. Despite life-saving efforts of Ninilchik Emergency Medical Services, Denver Hammons, 65, died of his injuries. No one else was in the car.

According to a press release from the Alaska State Troopers, troopers received a 911 call at 1:27 p.m. Wednesday of a single-car rollover at Mile 142 Sterling Highway, just north of Happy Valley. Troopers and Ninilchik EMS responded and found Hammons unconscious and not breathing outside his vehicle, a 1996 Nissan Pathfinder. Emergency medical technicians were unable to save Hammons, and he was declared dead at the scene.

Hammons had been driving north in the Nissan when it crossed the centerline and drove across the shoulder of the south-bound lane, troopers said in the release. Hammons overcorrected and lost control, skidding back into the northbound lane before overcorrecting again. The Nissan went back into the southbound lane and then flipped. Hammons did not wear a seat belt and was thrown from his car.

Next of kin has been notified, troopers said. Troopers said they do not believe alcohol was a factor.